ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 N8943E Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC (RDU)
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Saturday 4 December 1971
Time:13:46
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC93 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Operator:Eastern Air Lines
Registration: N8943E
MSN: 47166/265
First flight: 1968
Total airframe hrs:10304
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-7B
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 27
Collision casualties:Fatalities: 2
Aircraft damage: Minor
Aircraft fate: Repaired
Location:Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC (RDU) (   United States of America)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA), United States of America
Destination airport:Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC (RDU/KRDU), United States of America
Flightnumber:EA898
Narrative:
An Eastern Air Lines DC-9, N8943E, and a Cessna U206 Super Skywagon, N2110F, collided in flight on the final approach to runway 05, Raleigh-Durham Airport, North Carolina. Both aircraft were in communication with the Tower Control.
The DC-9 landed safely with no injuries to the 23 passengers and four crewmembers. The Cessna crashed and burned on the airport. The pilot and the only passenger in the Cessna were fatally injured.
As a result of the collision, the Cessna became affixed to the landing gear of the DC-9.
Both aircraft were aligned along their longitudinal axis with the main landing gear of the DC-9 impaled in the trailing edges of the wings of the Cessna. The Cessna was transported in this manner for several miles before it fell free and impacted in a near-vertical attitude on the airport.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The inadequacy of air traffic control facilities and services in flightpaths of the two aircraft and the configurations physically limited each flightcrew's ability to see and avoid the other aircraft."

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The inadequacy of air traffic control facilities and services in flightpaths of the two aircraft and the configurations physically limited each flightcrew's ability to see and avoid the other aircraft."

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 123 days (4 months)
Accident number: NTSB-AAR-72-13
Download report: Final report

Sources:
» NTSB/AAR-72/13


Follow-up / safety actions

NTSB issued 2 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

Add your photo of this accident or aircraft

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Miami International Airport, FL to Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC as the crow flies is 1123 km (702 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org